spring 1 of 2

noun

Definition of springnext
1
as in leap
an act of leaping into the air the deer gave a sudden spring and disappeared into the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the springs of this time-honored tradition run too deep to allow for easy explanation

Synonyms & Similar Words

spring

2 of 2

verb

ˈspriŋ How to pronounce spring (audio)
1
as in to start
to come into existence when it comes to love and romance, hope springs eternally

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leap
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air the cat sprang and pounced on the mouse

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to release
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) had to spend a night in jail until their lawyer could come to spring them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb spring differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spring are arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, and stem. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

How do arise and rise relate to one another, in the sense of spring?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

When is it sensible to use derive instead of spring?

In some situations, the words derive and spring are roughly equivalent. However, derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

Where would emanate be a reasonable alternative to spring?

While in some cases nearly identical to spring, emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How are the words flow and spring related?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

When might issue be a better fit than spring?

Although the words issue and spring have much in common, issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

When would originate be a good substitute for spring?

The meanings of originate and spring largely overlap; however, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

When could proceed be used to replace spring?

The synonyms proceed and spring are sometimes interchangeable, but proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

In what contexts can stem take the place of spring?

While the synonyms stem and spring are close in meaning, stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spring
Noun
Get the normally overrun streets of Venice all to yourself by visiting in the spring or fall. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025 Taylor Patterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, said the National Weather Service issues frost and freeze warnings in the spring and fall seasons for farmers and horticulturalists to protect any sensitive vegetation. —Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Everyone instantly sprung into action. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 Clocks will spring forward on Sunday, March 8, in 2026. —Chris Sims, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spring
  1. leap
  2. source
  3. start
  4. jump
  5. release
  6. hop
  7. cradle
  8. begin
Noun
  • Regular water can't make that leap.
    — Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
  • But after withering on the Houston bench for two years in an overcrowded forward rotation, he’s primed for a leap in Year 3.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of leap
Noun
  • As various ancient sources recount, after Achilles is killed by Paris, the Greeks resort to deception.
    — Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • In the midst of tragedy came a small offering of knowledge from an unsuspecting source.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of source
Verb
  • Tickets for Sting's show start at $750 apiece.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Twin with Stone and add a brown suede jacket to your fall capsule wardrobe with similar styles on Amazon, starting at $35.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of start
Verb
  • That figure jumped 26 percent over last year’s NLCS, which was the previous record in Japan.
    — The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Despite a challenging outlook for the luxury sector as a whole, markets have cheered de Meo’s arrival, with Kering’s share price jumping 83 percent since news of his appointment broke in June.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Definition of jump
Verb
  • An internal investigation by Kenvue Brands LLC, the company that owns Neutrogena, revealed the brand’s Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes tested positive for a bacteria known as pluralibacter gergoviae, per information released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The White House did not release the size of the donations for all 37 listed.
    — Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
Definition of release
Noun
  • There's also the Hermann Trolley, which provides hop-on hop-off service to the town’s wineries.
    — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • There was something about hip hop music’s groove that created a space to be fully myself.
    — Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of hop
Noun
  • The same technology’s feasibility should also be assessed under different climate zones, and full life cycle assessments (cradle-to-grave) of GS are a necessity for a better understanding of the technology’s merits and limits, researchers noted.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The town is also the cradle of the popular Mexican Tecate beer and boasts remarkable natural landscapes.
    — Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Definition of cradle
Verb
  • Inspectors from the Ministry of Customs and Trade began to look into the firm’s finances.
    — Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Connolly began her political career when she was elected as a Labour Party member of Galway City Council in 1999.
    — Fortune, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of begin

Phrases Containing spring

Browse Nearby Words

sprigs
spring
spring (for)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spring. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on spring

Nglish: Translation of spring for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spring

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

8 Real (and Perceived) Redundant Words

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All